The prime minister of Egypt announced this weekend the government of strongman Abdel Fattah al-Sisi would shut down at least 16 travel companies implicated in sending Egyptians to the Hajj pilgrimage without proper registration, resulting in hundreds dead from heat illness this month.
The combination of thousands of unregistered pilgrims walking in blistering heat with no access to cooling facilities and the high number of elderly people attempting to complete the Hajj before the end of their lives resulted in a particularly deadly Hajj this year. The deaths have brought renewed scrutiny on Saudi Arabia’s custodianship over the holiest cities in Islam. Riyadh’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has attempted to respond to the criticism by highlighting positive stories from this year’s pilgrimage, including those from special needs pilgrims.The Hajj community welcomes everyone, providing services tailored to each pilgrim's needs, overcoming obstacles, and making the journey smooth for all.
“Many Egyptian pilgrims come from poor villages. They spend their life savings on the spiritual journey to the holiest city in Islam,” Sayyed explained, saying his mother was “totally abandoned” in Mecca with no water or shelter and the travel company that arranged her trip disappeared after her death.
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